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Woofer Clamps

Hi there,

Am looking to see where one could procure woofer clamps like used with the 2245 on the 4345 speakers. I see USSpeaker sells cheap clamps that would probably work, but the cost of shipping when I load my cart is quite high, and wondered what alternatives existed. Being Canadian stinks if you want to buy stuff from south of the border... that sweet free shipping runs out, and our money is made out of dirt.

That said... how many use clamps vs screws? I realize they were intended to make swapping drivers simpler, but there is something about the look that cant be replicated as well with traditional screw mounting.

I'm not aware if you're still looking for the woofer clamps, but I found some shown below from Canadian retailers, therefore no currency exchange rate applied to our "funny money". Also, depending on which Province you live in there might be some of the sales tax(es) non-applicable.

I don't know if you insist on having the JBL MA-15 ones, in view of price in USD, Odd's indication those he showed are in Hong Kong, plus shipping cost for the long way home. Some duty may apply at border too...

The ones shown in first pic look similar to the MA-15 kit I have on my 2205 cabs. There's another model I have (2nd pic), which is also available in Canada from another retailer, but its somewhat more expensive being sold by the unit and the screws/T-nuts appear to be sold separately for that last one.

However, in case you'd go for the last option above, I have two sets of 16 screws/T-nuts not being used, one black the other silver (3rd pic). The black ones I keep to go with my black clamps in stock, but the silver screws/T-nuts (size 10) I could do without for the asking, though they may or may not be large enough for your project? You decide. BTW I'm not a big fan of the T-nut system, for a few reasons, and have installed it on one pair of my boxes only (2205).

I have not purchased nor own the ones on the first pic so I cannot comment on them, but they seem ok at first sight.

Send me a private message if you're interested in getting the details. Regards,

One should consider that the MA-15 clamps don't suit for all transducers. Especially not for the K-145 and others with higher rims.

@Richard: I do understand your reasoning against T-nuts very well after some encounter when building a pair of 2225H subwoofers about four weeks ago. It was rather annoying to see the second to last or even the last T-nut falling off the baffle into the inside when installing the drivers . Hence it might be advisable to addtionally secure them with contact glue before driving the screws.

Tee mits

That style of nut is not really suitable for particle board, MDF, HDF or generally species wood. best used in plywood. For the others the usual choice would be "Propel nuts" they have a spiral shank that snugs into a specific hole size in the wood. Not nearly as prone to falling out.

For small quantity orders Mcmaster Carr
as for example these for #10 screws

Thanks for the input. I secured the 2205 T-nuts with GE's rubber silicone all around them, more so for air leaks since I wasn't satisfied with their sealing. This way they don't move AND are air tight.

BTW I add a larger black washer between the screw head and the clamp to spread the binding force on each clamp's whole flat surface or so, instead of having that force applied by the screw head alone near each side of the slot in the clamp, which is the weaker point on MA-15 type clamps (see in first pic, post # 5).

The thin cork gasket that came with the MA-15 mounting kit has very little compression (spongy effect) so to avoid any air leaks the driver has to be installed relatively tight, not overly tight. Regards,

Thanks for the info. Haven't seen locally before that type of "Propel nuts", but never really looked for such either. From the picture shown in the link you posted, if I understand correctly these nuts sort of make themselves a thread in the wood as they go in?

As for your mention about conventional T-nuts being "best used in plywood." well it depends in my view. I'd tend to agree with softer spruce/pine content plywood. However my experience with 7-ply, 3/4" Douglas Fir plywood from British Columbia and T-nuts showed its difficult to hammer them in without nut legs bending, Fir being among the hardest of so called soft woods. Imagine with Baltic Birch plywood.

No wonder someone invented the nuts you show. No more T-nut legs bending when hammered into harder wood. Regards,